Math Exams
Math. The dreaded subject by most, and the beloved subject by few; if you identify with the later group, I envy you.
Personally, each time I think about having to write a math exam, a couple of tears come to my eyes, and it suffices to say that math is not my strong subject. But, each year I do come out of writing my math exam feeling not too bad, and I wanted to share a few tricks with you. Keep in mind that not all of these tips might work, but they're worth a shot to test them out.
Repetition is important in math; you learn how to solve problems by doing them, but don't do it blindly. Make sure you learn how to recognize when/why you should use a specific method to solve a problem.
Work on practice problems for each topic ranging in levels of difficulty.
When practicing, try to solve the problem on your own first, then look at the answer or seek help if you are having trouble.
Mix up the order of the questions from various topics when you are reviewing so you'll learn when to use a specific method/formula.
Make up a sheet with all the formulas you need to know and memorize all the formulas on the sheet.
When you get your exam, write down all the key formulas on the margin of your paper so if you forget them when you're in the middle of the test, you can look back at the formula.
Read the directions carefully and don't forget to answer all parts of the question.
Make estimates for your answers... i.e. if you are asked to answer 48 x 12 = ?, you could expect a number around 500, but if you end up with an answer around 5000, you'll know you did something wrong.
Show all your work (especially when partial credit is awarded) and write as clear as possible. Even if you know the final answer is wrong, don't erase your entire work because you may get partial credit for using the correct procedure. Part marks could mean the difference between a pass and a fail.
Check over your test after you are done with it, looking for careless mistakes such as making sure the decimal is in the right place, that you read the directions correctly, that you copied the numbers correctly, that you put a negative sign if it is needed, that your arithmetic is correct and so on.
If you have time, redo a problem you struggled with on a separate piece of paper and see if you come up with the same answer the second time around. I usually circle the question number of problems I struggle with, regardless of whether I managed to complete it or not, so I know which ones to really check when I look over my test.
Lastly, if you get stuck on a question, move on to the next one, and come back to it at the end. The more frustrated you get, the less likely you will correctly answer questions you normally ace, and you don't want to spend all your time trying to figure out how to answer this one question, and run out of time at the end.
Remember that if you are really struggling with math (and that's OKAY!!), don't give up and reach out for help; ask a teacher, a parent, your classmates, or get the help of a tutor.
Good luck this exam season!!
"Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something."
- Morihei Ueshiba
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